Lighter



Sept. '12, 1939. w KELLER 1 2,172,709

LIGHTER Filed Dec. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inucrilor FWZZ'e/Aer A iiorneys Sept. 12, 1939. I F w KELLER I 2,172,709

LIGHTER Filed Dec. 16, 1938 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Inventor A iiorneys Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES LIGHTER Francis W. Keller, Columbia, S. 0., assignor o! gong per cent to Thomas F. Ball, Columbia,

Application December 16, 1938, Serial No. 246,238

2 Claims.

This invention relates to lighters of the type particularly adapted for'use as a cigar or cigarette lighter.

An object of the present invention is to provide 5 a hand operated, self-contained, magneto actuated electric cigarette lighter characterized by low initial and maintenance cost.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a' study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, through the invention, with most parts shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rack bar.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing a guide tube for the lower end of the rack bar and a spring associated therewith.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the lighter comprises a casing 5 of any suitable shape, construction and design, but preferably consisting of a pair of complemental sections united or secured together by bolts or the like 8. At one corner thereof the casing 5 is provided with a diagonal wall section I and at the upper end of the casing, between the wall section I and the opposite wall thereof the casing is provided with an opening for which is provided a closure! for which there is a suitable spring hinge 9 operating to normally urge the closure 8 to open position.

Mounted in the casing I so as to be easily accessible when the door or closure 8 is swung to open position is an easily replaceable ignition element in the form of a suitable resistance I B, and the same is wired in circuit with a magneto or electric generator arranged in the bottom part of the casing I.

As will be clear from a study of Figures 1 and 2 the electric generator or magneto has the parts thereof suitably mounted and supported between opposed plates II and includes spaced opposed 45 coils ll provided at their upper and lower ends with laminated metal cores ii that are mounted for adjustment relative to, and are secured at the desired adjustment relative to a four pole rotary laminated magnet II by bolt and slot means I.

For rotating the magnet ii there is provided a train of gearing including a suitably mounted rack wheel II on a common axis with a gear wheel II that is in mesh with a pinion I! provided 5: onacommon'axiswithageartl."rhegearll is in constant mesh with a pinion 2i mounted on an axis common to the rotary magnet ii and fixed or otherwise secured to one side of a plate 22 equipped on the side thereof opposite to the pnion with a plurality of dogs 23 engageable with the notches of a notch wheel 24 that together wLh the magnet ii is mounted on their common a :is loosely while the gear 2i is secured to said axis. Obviously therefore, as the gear or pinion 2i iscaused to rotate in a counter clock- 1. wise direction as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 dogs 23 engage the notched wheel for placing the gear 2| in ,driving engagement with the magnet ii to cause the latter to rotate at a high speed for generating current to heat the II resistance i0.

Cooperating with the rack wheel ii for ro-' tating the magnet ll through the train of gearing and mechanism just described there is provided a rack bar 2! including an intermediate '1 or rack section, the teeth of which are in constant mesh with the rack wheel H, a knob equipped end No that operates through a suitable opening provided therefor, in the wall I, and an end 25b that slidably works in a diagonally 35 disposed fixed guide tube 26 which is mounted in the bottom of the casing 5 as will be clear from a study of Figures 1 and 4. Confinedw'ithin the guide tube 26 is a spring 21 that acts on the rack bar 25 for normally urging the same to the position shown in Figure l.

Projecting from the rack portion of the bar 2| is a substantially hook-shaped latch arm 2. engageable with a suitably provided keeper pin 2! on the door or closure 8 and cooperable therewith a for releasably retaining the'closure I in closed position. Inthis connection it will be seen that by applying pressure to the rack bar at the end 25a thereof by the thumb of the hand holding the case, said rack bar will be moved inwardly 40 against the action 01 spring 21 to release the door 8 so that the latter may swing to an open position, and at the same time to revolve the rotary magnet i l for setting the magneto in operation. Obviously, when the resistance iii becomes sumciently heated, and with the closure 8 in open position access may be readily had to the resistance i I for lighting the end of a cigar, cigarette or the like.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction. materials used and assemblage herein illustrated and aooordingly claim all such forms of the invention to which I am entitled.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

I 1. In a self-contained magneto actuated electric cigar or cigarette lighter, a casing, a hinged closure. for the casing,,an igniting element in the casing accessible when the closure is in an open position, an operating bar slidably mounted in the {Q casing and having an end portion slidable through an opening in the wall of the casing, a magneto mounted in the casing and connected to the igniting element, said magneto including stationary coils having cores, a rotary magnet arranged be- 1. tween the stationary coils,-a train of gearing for rotating the rotary magnet, means for driving the gearing incidental to a sliding movement of said bar including a rack wheel associated with said gearing and rack teeth on said bar in constant mesh with said rack wheel, a spring device within'the casing and engaged with said bar for normally urging the same in one direction, a keeper member on said closure and a latch arm carried by said bar and engageable with said 35 keeper, said latch arm being movable with the bar out o! engagement with said keeper incidental to an inward movement said bar.

awaroa 2. In a self-contained magneto actuated electric cigar or cigarette lighter, a casing, a hinged closure tor the casing, an igniting element in the casing accessible when the closure is in an open position, an operating bar slidably mounted in the casing and have an end portion slidable through an opening in the wall of the casing, a magneto mounted in the casing and connected to the igniting element, said magneto including stationary coils having cores mounted for sliding adjustment thereon, a rotary magnet arranged between the stationary coils, a train of gearing for rotating the magnet, means for driving the gearing incidental to a sliding movement of said bar including a rack wheel associated with said gearing and rack teeth on said bar in constant mesh with said rack wheel, a spring device within the casing and engaged with said bar for normally urging the 'same in one direction, a keeper member on said closure and a latch arm carried by said bar and engageable with said keeper, said latch arn'i being movable with the bar out of engagement with said keeper incidental to an inward movement of said bar, and means for securing the cores in adjusted position relative to said rotary magnet.

FRANCIS W. KELLER. 

